Driver Check - lets taxi users check their driver

expectationlost · 18-10-2014 7:20pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

Sorry, my misunderstanding.

The driver check app only provides details of which vehicle the driver is attached to, or if the vehicle is a registered taxi, dependant on if you put a driver number, plate number or registration number.

The SPSV driver records contain much more information, including home address, telephone contact number, pps number, tax clearance state, photographs, expirary dates etc.

I've never felt the need to spend €25 to find out which information they hand out, but AFAIK your home address is one of them

EDIT

your link comes up

yeah there couple of different registers, Tommy Broughan latest Dail PQ related to the online one, Im not sure if this is what he is referring to. he was referring to both the online ahd offline/fee version
the link gives me no problems if you go to
http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/
then on the TAXi drop down
Check if a taxi driver is properly licensed

but obviously there is some problem there,

https://publicregister.nationaltransport.ie/ seems like an out of date page, referring as it does to the taxi regulator which was subsumed back into the NTA a few years ago

expectationlost · 18-10-2014 7:32pm

The Official MANUAL for Operating in the SPSV Industry page 8
http://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/The-Official-MANUAL-for-Operating-in-the-SPSV-Industry-4th-Edition.pdf

National SPSV registers (licence database)
Under Section 38 of the Taxi Regulation Act, the National Transport Authority is required to
maintain a national register of licences. There are currently three separate registers
– a register of licensed SPSVs, a register of licensed SPSV drivers, and a register of licensed dispatch
operators. The National Transport Authority makes these registers available to other agencies
to facilitate law enforcement and regulatory compliance as may be required.
As required by statute, a limited subset of licence record information is made available to the
public. This is known as the ‘public register’ or ‘online register’, as it is available on the
Authority’s website.

The registers include the following details:
The name and address of the licence holder;
The date on which the licence was granted;
Details of any suspension applying to a licence, including the period of the suspension, a
reference to the reason for the suspension, and particulars of all removals of such suspensions; and
Details of the revocation of a licence and the reasons for revocation.
In relation to vehicle licences, the registers include the following details:

The vehicle licence number;
The registration number of the licensed vehicle;
The category of SPSV to which the licence applies;
The name and SPSV driver licence number of the driver currently linked with the vehicle;
Details of any transfer of a taxi licence from one person to another; and
Details of any changes of vehicle associated with the licence.

In relation to SPSV driver licences, the registers include the following details:

The SPSV driver licence number; and
The county or counties for which the SPSV driver licence has been granted; and
Vehicle licence number and registration number of the vehicle with which the driver is currently linked;

In relation to dispatch operator licences, the registers include the following details:

Business name;
Opening hours;
Contact details and booking methods;
Number of vehicles in each SPSV category, owned and affiliated; and
Number of drivers
employed and affiliated.

Public (online) register
Some of the information in the registers must be made available to the general public from the National Transport Authority’s consumer-facing website,
www.transportforireland.ie. While the Authority will not publish on its website the address details of licence holders or details of
suspensions or revocations of licences or certain personal details about the licence holder, it is
obliged under Section 38 of the Taxi Regulation Act to supply details (including address details)
regarding any licence holder on receipt of a written request for a certificate of information. (Any
such request must be accompanied by the relevant fee.)

The abridged registers published on the Authority’s website include the following:

SPSV driver licence information
–
SPSV driver licence number, the holder’s name, licence
areas, licence status and licence expiry date;

Vehicle licence information
–
vehicle licence number, licence type, vehicle registration
number of the associated vehicle, the vehicle licence holder’s name, licence status and
licence expiry date;

Dispatch operator information
–
dispatch operator licence number, company name, contact
name, licence status and licence expiry date.

Spook_ie · 18-10-2014 8:33pm

expectationlost wrote: »

you don't think business addresses should be available? even with a fee?

If the business is being run from there, as in having planning permission from the local council, maybe. But as it is my family home and the adress is there purely for correspondence from the NTA then no, not really.
As I've said if someone can give me a reason why someone would actually need my address rather than contacting the NTA or Garda with a complaint/query then maybe I'd agree in principle but I see no genuine reason why anyone needs my address to be available to them

expectationlost · 18-10-2014 8:53pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

If the business is being run from there, as in having planning permission from the local council, maybe. But as it is my family home and the adress is there purely for correspondence from the NTA then no, not really.
As I've said if someone can give me a reason why someone would actually need my address rather than contacting the NTA or Garda with a complaint/query then maybe I'd agree in principle but I see no genuine reason why anyone needs my address to be available to them

and I can't think of a reason why a business would exist without a listed address

couldn't taxi drivers sent up a PO box as a business contact address.

Spook_ie · 18-10-2014 9:45pm

expectationlost wrote: »

and I can't think of a reason why a business would exist without a listed address

couldn't taxi drivers sent up a PO box as a business contact address.

Don't know, I don't think you can use. P.O Boxes because if the Gardai wish to trace your plate number. It comes down to, is there a reason that members of the public have a genuine need to access a taxi drivers home address, I can't see any reason why they would

expectationlost · 18-10-2014 9:57pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

Don't know, I don't think you can use. P.O Boxes because if the Gardai wish to trace your plate number. It comes down to, is there a reason that members of the public have a genuine need to access a taxi drivers home address, I can't see any reason why they would

I think theres many genuine reasons for people to be able to get the address, for a fee, of a licensed business operator.

Spook_ie · 18-10-2014 10:01pm

expectationlost wrote: »

I can think theres many genuine reasons for people to be able to get the address for a fee of a licensed business.

Give me a genuine reason why you would be looking for a taxivdrivers home address?

Cookie_Monster · 20-10-2014 3:48am

Spook_ie wrote: »

Give me a genuine reason why you would be looking for a taxivdrivers home address?

because that is where they are likely to have their business registered to if they are a sole trader or even a small company.

Spook_ie · 20-10-2014 9:20am

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

because that is where they are likely to have their business registered to if they are a sole trader or even a small company.

Yeah I understand that, but as the business is carried out in (effectively) a mobile office, identified by a roof sign number, why would you be looking for their home address?
If it's a problem with the taxi or the driver the only point of contact for a complaint is the NTA, if it's a legal problem, like a hit and run, then the only point of contact is the Gardai.

Spook_ie · 20-10-2014 9:53am

Actually this thread got me thinking, AFAIK you don't have to be registered with anyone but the tax office as self employed to be a sole trader, using form TR1.

I don't believe the revenue will provide your name and address to anyone from their system for a fee of €25

Spook_ie · 20-10-2014 10:25am

I can give you a reason why it shouldn't be given, suppose a criminal was watching a bank official, in preparation for a tiger kidnapping and the official always used a reliable one man taxi firm, what better way than to kidnap him while in the taxi he always uses, far fetched, maybe not so far as people would like to think.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/icrime/robber-posed-as-taxi-driver-to-take-post-worker-to-work-106674.html

GARDAÍ are investigating a new form of tiger kidnapping in which a robber posed as a taxi driver when collecting a post mistress.

The raider collected Deirdre Higgins outside her home in Beaumont, north Dublin, yesterday and brought her to her post office in the Omni Park Shopping Centre in Santry.

Detectives believe that the raiders had carried out surveillance on the movements of Ms Higgins.

It appears that the taxi company received a call the night before from a person canceling her taxi. The raiders then sent a bogus taxi to pick up her.

“She always takes a taxi to work. She was picked up by what looked like a taxi, but it was bogus, and brought to work,” said a Garda source.

Locals in Beaumont Crescent said that a second taxi arrived as she was driven off. This is understood to have been a taxi driver from the firm she used who may have got suspicious as to why she cancelled.

When Ms Higgins arrived at the Omni Centre the driver instructed her to go to the post office and withdraw cash and brandished a gun at the woman.

Security at the post office were alerted. Sources said the raider may have got “spooked” and left the scene empty handed.

expectationlost · 21-10-2014 12:07am

Spook_ie wrote: »

I can give you a reason why it shouldn't be given, suppose a criminal was watching a bank official, in preparation for a tiger kidnapping and the official always used a reliable one man taxi firm, what better way than to kidnap him while in the taxi he always uses, far fetched, maybe not so far as people would like to think.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/icrime/robber-posed-as-taxi-driver-to-take-post-worker-to-work-106674.html

you're inventing crimes now, in your scenario the criminal would have to arrange to kidnap one person to kidnap another to rob a bank having gone to some office to get the details of the taxi man and thus possibly being on cctv of which ever office they visited.

Spook_ie · 21-10-2014 1:14am

expectationlost wrote: »

you're inventing crimes now, in your scenario the criminal would have to arrange to kidnap one person to kidnap another to rob a bank having gone to some office to get the details of the taxi man and thus possibly being on cctv of which ever office they visited.

No you can do it over t'internet. Besides not all crooks are masterminds but if they have an idea they might well try it out. No reason to make it any easier

expectationlost · 27-10-2014 1:24pm

http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/check-if-a-taxi-driver-is-properly-licensed/ used this, search for dublin taxi on google images and then used numbers off photo, just to test the vehicle registration option

Licence Number: Tx2x1x
Licence Type: Taxi
Licence Status: Active
Licence Expiry Date: 05/07/2015
Vehicle Registration No.: 1xDx57x3
Name of Licence Holder: INTERCITY CABS LTD

it gives you an option to request more info

You can receive more information on this record via a Section 18 Certificate (please click here to view the details that will be supplied in this certificate). In order to obtain this certificate, you will need to purchase it for €25 using a credit or laser card. On successful payment the certificate will be posted, to the address you provide below, within 5 working days. If you wish to proceed, please fill out the information below and continue to the next step.

Please note, the fee of €25 for the Section 18 Certificate is non-refundable.
First Name:*

Surname:*

Postal Address:*

Contact Number:*

Email Address:

I hereby request to be furnished with a Section 18 Certificate. I declare that all the details I have given in this form are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I accept that false or misleading information may invalidate this application. I accept incomplete or inaccurate information may delay or invalidate my request. I understand that this website is designed to be updated every 24 hours, barring circumstances that prevent or delay data entry. Therefore, the data may be subject to a 24-hour delay.
The applicant for this certificate has undertaken not to circulate or share this information with any other party without the express consent of the Authority.
Click in the following box, if you agree with the statements above

The following information will be included in the certificate:

Licence Holder Name
Licence Holder Address
Vehicle Registration Number
Licence Number
Licence Status
Licence Category
Licence Issue Date
Licence Expiry Date

section 18 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2013/en/act/pub/0037/print.html#sec18

so they'll have some of your payment information, and they could get more, and an address

expectationlost · 28-10-2014 5:22pm

228. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the nature of the information contained on the online SPSV register maintained by the National Transport Authority in accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act; and if he is concerned that the home addresses of taxi drivers are available to requesters for a relatively nominal fee. [39610/14]

229. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form on a monthly basis, the number of requests made to view the details of taxi drivers via the online SPSV register in 2013 and to date in 2014. [39615/14]

https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2014-10-16a.632&s=tabular#g636.q

so I got the answer to these questions that NTA gave to Tommy Broughan TD

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6AEiinGYynOTkVERGl2SHhGMUE/view?usp=sharing

accessed 16 times in 2013
accessed 7 times in 2014 so far

this second answer just retsates the rules as in the above letter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6AEiinGYynOdHlCcEtoVFVLSlU/view?usp=sharing

the register was first instituted in the 2003 Taxi Regulation Act 2003 section 38
and then in the Taxi regualtion Act 2013 section 18 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2013/en/act/pub/0037/print.html#sec18

when was it put online all the way back in 2003 or does this https://publicregister.nationaltransport.ie/ErrorPage.aspx it suggest that maybe this was first put online in 2010?

this page http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/check-if-a-taxi-driver-is-properly-licensed/ first went up in 2012, accoridng to its source

https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-01-23a.80&s=online+spsv+register#g82
23 January 2013
There will be an online register of drivers so the State knows what driver is in each car, and consumers will be able to verify this.

it would be interesting to know how many times the online version of it is used.

expectationlost · 28-10-2014 9:54pm

read through IrishTaxi.org to see them complaining about this back in 2010,

threy remove the make and model of car at some point they say
http://irishtaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=7411.0

start date of the licence, don't why they'd remove that.

expectationlost · 03-05-2015 10:58pm

more taxi driver paranoia now they are giving out about the decals saying it makes them a target for robberies http://www.thejournal.ie/taxi-thefts-2072628-May2015/?utm_source=facebook_short

Dessie Eillis in the Dail https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2015-04-23a.415&s=speaker%3A324#g418

It also provides information to anyone who might wish to clone the driver's licence as one can now quite easily find out a person's address from these decals. One may be a customer or just passing down a street. One driver showed me how it was possible to change the name of the driver attached to a certain car with use of the app and details from the decal and plate. Some people's details have been available even after they have passed away.

t requires email and a password to get in, so if anybody had both of those, you would have to be pretty determined crook to get those, I don't know how having to have decals on the side of the taxi or not would make a difference?

coylemj · 04-05-2015 5:02pm

Is Dessie Ellis (SF) now the mouthpiece for the taxi trade in Leinster House? Of yes, of course, didn't Ivor Callely (FF) go to jail for fiddling his mobile phone expenses!

expectationlost · 04-05-2015 7:00pm

http://www.thejournal.ie/taxi-thefts-2072628-May2015/

Shane Lennon told us he only got his taxi back a few days ago, after it was stolen from outside his house last month.
Enough said … It was taken because it is a taxi and it is easily-identifiable as a taxi. The meter was ripped out, the decals were ripped off, they put in a new ignition. Bits and bobs, you know.
Lennon, who has been working as a taxi driver for six years, said he doesn’t believe his car would have been stolen if it wasn’t clear it was a taxi.

whats the benefit of stealing a taxi?

Victor · 05-05-2015 12:50am

coylemj wrote: »

Is Dessie Ellis (SF) now the mouthpiece for the taxi trade in Leinster House? Of yes, of course, didn't Ivor Callely (FF) go to jail for fiddling his mobile phone expenses!

I've no idea what this is about, but I'm reasonably sure it is off topic.

Moderator

expectationlost wrote: »

http://www.thejournal.ie/taxi-thefts-2072628-May2015/

whats the benefit of stealing a taxi?

Especially if you remove the taxi bits.

expectationlost · 16-12-2015 6:30pm

so apparently there going to remove the home address from the register http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/taxi-drivers-addresses-cut-from-register-for-security-34291538.html still have no evidence this is happening

Driver Check - lets taxi users check their driver

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